Ministry of Justice

thebigword

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the contract with thebigword to provide interpreting and translation services in the criminal justice system will be reviewed.

lord keen of elie: The Language Services contracts commenced on 31 October 2016, with thebigword appointed as providers of spoken face to face, telephone and video interpretation as well as translation and transcription services. The initial term of the contracts is four years with up to three one-year extensions available. The initial term of the contracts with thebigword is due to expire on 30th October 2020. The first option to extend for one-year has been agreed for translation and transcription services, and has also been approved for spoken face to face, telephone and video interpretation services. The future of the contract, including the possibility of further extensions, is currently being considered.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent events in Hong Kong, what plans they have to draw attention to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, ratified by the governments of China and the UK in 1984 at the next United Nations Security Council meeting.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is fully committed to upholding the Joint Declaration of 1984 and has consistently highlighted the importance we attach to China abiding by its obligations. Though we have no plans to raise the Joint Declaration in the Security Council, the UK did raise the Sino-British treaty in our national ‘item 2’ statement at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in September. In the statement, we re-iterated our support for and call for all to respect the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, including the rights and freedoms in the Joint Declaration. We also underlined the importance of upholding the right to peaceful assembly in the UK’s statement at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on 15th October.

Kashmir: Politics and Government

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decision of the government of India, on 5 August, to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution of India, and what representations they have made to the government of India about that decision.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Events in Kashmir can have regional and international implications and we continue to urge calm and caution from all. We are following the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Government of India. The Prime Minister has spoken to Prime Minister Modi about the situation, underlining the importance of maintaining dialogue. The Foreign Secretary has raised his concerns about the situation with the Indian Minister for External Affairs Dr Jaishankar. I have also had regular engagement with the Indian High Commissioner to the UK and raised the situation in Kashmir with Minister for Minority Affairs Naqvi in New Delhi earlier this month.

Kashmir: Politics and Government

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to seek a peaceful resolution of the dispute between India and Pakistan, following the decision of the government of India on 5 August to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government’s longstanding position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or act as mediator. We encourage India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability. We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Governments of both India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister has spoken to both Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, underlining the importance of maintaining dialogue. ​

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist (1) British National Overseas passport holders, and (2) other people who are subject to human rights violations, to ensure that the government of Hong Kong honours the 1984 Sino-British Declaration.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is fully committed to upholding Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, which is guaranteed by the legally binding Joint Declaration of 1984 and enshrined in the Hong Kong Basic Law. The Foreign Secretary has made this clear to both the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, and Chinese Foreign Minister, State Councillor Wang Yi. The Foreign Secretary has also spoken to a wide range of counterparts on this issue and welcomes the strong statements made by our international partners. We will continue to engage the Hong Kong SAR government, the Chinese government and international partners, reiterating the fundamental importance of upholding the rights and freedoms of all the people of Hong Kong, including the BN(O) passport holders that live there.

Department for Work and Pensions

State Retirement Pensions: Post Offices

lord naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government how pensioners who do not have a bank account will receive their pension when the contract with the Post Office expires in 2021.

baroness stedman-scott: The Department’s contract with Post Office Limited for the Post Office Card Account is due to end November 2021. Plans are underway for a replacement service. The replacement service will ensure that customers who remain unable to open or manage a standard bank account, are provided with a payment mechanism to receive their payment of pension or benefit from Department, over the counter, in their local area. Commercial arrangements are underway, to invite potential suppliers to tender for the contract, via competitive tender later this year.

Industrial Health and Safety: Farms

lord stevenson of balmacara: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether children visiting farms are protected by the statutory duties on employers and others to protect the health and safety of non-employees, including members of the public, as set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

baroness stedman-scott: Children visiting farms, and those that live on the farm, are protected by the general duties of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA). The HSWA requires employers and the self-employed to conduct their undertaking to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. In addition to the general duties of HSWA, the Prevention of Accidents to Children in Agriculture Regulations 1998 place specific duties on any person in respect of protecting the health and safety of children on farms from the risks of riding on or driving certain farm vehicles. Guidance for employers and the self-employed can be found in the leaflet ‘Preventing accidents to children on farms’. A copy is attached.



Preventing accidents to children on farms 
(PDF Document, 615.04 KB)

Northern Ireland Office

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

lord caine: To ask Her Majesty's Government which ministers from the Northern Ireland Office attended the commemorative events held at Lisburn on 17 August to mark the 50th anniversary of Operation Banner.

lord caine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Northern Ireland Office has taken to mark the 50th anniversary of Operation Banner.

lord duncan of springbank: I have enormous respect for all those who served their country with distinction during Operation Banner. The UK Government was represented by Ministers at the following events to mark the 50th Anniversary of the start of Operation Banner:The Secretary of State for Defence attended the Royal British Legion event at the National memorial Arboretum on 14 August 2019;The Minister for Defence Procurement attended the memorial event in Lisburn on 17 August 2019.